Word Origin & History

follow O.E. folgian, fylgan "follow, pursue," also "obey, apply oneself to a practice or calling," from W.Gmc. *fulg- (cf. O.Fris. folgia, M.Du. volghen, Ger. folgen "to follow"). Probably originally a compound of *full-gan with a sense of "full-going;" the sense then shifting to "serve, go with as an attendant" (cf. fulfill). Related: Followed; following. To follow through is from 1897, a metaphor from golf swings. To follow one's nose "go straight on" first attested 1640s.

Example Sentences for following up

Following up this line of thought he became interested in economics and labour questions.

The stranger, following up the stairs with Mayo, nudged his companion.

Also that Mrs. Foster had lost no time in following up the clew, for she was only twenty-four hours behind me.

Somehow, a rumor got about that the Confederates were following up the raiders.

For ten days he had lost no opportunity of following up both Dorothy and her mother.

And now he dug and dug away, following up the hole in the pavement.

He delivered his service with deadly precision, following up at the net with a smashing return, which left his opponent helpless.

"It is true, then," said I—following up the delusion of my dream.

Antigonus following up the royal general, Upper Asia becomes the theatre of war.